Jeep Gregs Willys CJ2a, rusto-mod version
- Thread starter Greg
- Start date
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Well, it's been over a year since any updates.... at this point, nothing has changed and that's good and bad. During some of the trips in the last year or so, the CJ2A has been less than reliable. From starter problems, to carb issues and vapor locking problems it's been acting like a 70+ year old Jeep! 😬 The last RME Run up The Pickle trail was pretty stressful for me, had to get pull started a few times and yanked up some ledges.
I've been debating what to do from here for quite some time and I don't take this lightly.... the CJ2A has a ton of personality and it's just damn cool as is. But I think it's time it grew up... time it became more capable, reliable and easier to drive on challenging trails. I hope I don't ruin the personality and character. I've been gathering various parts for awhile now and think I have a plan. The plan may change, but at this point here's my thinking.
Today I hauled home a 1966 CJ5 frame that's in pretty good shape. This frame isn't too different from the '48 CJ frame far as wheelbase, but at least this frame doesn't have a bunch of hacked up farmer welding on it. I believe the body mounts will line up, everything should fit far as mating these two.
I've also gathered;
'99 Vortec 4.3 V6
4x4 TH350
Dana 300
Narrow Track CJ Dana 30 front w/ disc brakes
Narrow Track CJ AMC 20 rear w/ Detroit and 4.10 gears
The CJ5 frame will be getting YJ springs, probably going to use the Rubicon Express 1.5" Extreme Duty springs. I've been looking hard at the Rocky Road Outfitters CJ to YJ spring Conversion for this. I could fab my own YJ spring hangers and still might, but this would make it easy and someone else could follow along on their own build, which is neat IMO. I'd also beef up the frame in the needed places, add a mount for a Saginaw power steering box, build bumpers and a winch plate, etc.
Once the drivetrain was in the CJ5 frame and was a roller and the 4.3, TH350, Dana 300 and CJ axles were sitting on YJ springs, I'd work on swapping the CJ2A body onto the CJ5 frame. The goal here is to keep the CJ2A together for as long as possible, so I can still drive it in the mean time.
I'd be building this thing to sit of 35" BFGoodrich KM3's, but keep it as low as possible. That means I'd raise the fenders up a few inches, raise the rear wheel wells and probably open them up and move the arch back, as much as possible with keeping the wheel and tire moved back as much as I can with YJ springs. Not sure how many of you know Brennan Metcalf, but I'd be taking notes from his setup to some degree. Low as possible, with 'big' tires.... and 35's on a CJ2A are massive! 😎
Once the body swap is done, I'd like to build a simple full roll cage and add suspension seats, for safety and comfort.
So that's the plan.... I'm not going to start working on it right away, I have other projects to finish first. But I'll keep gathering pieces and get to work on this thing soon enough. I'm hoping I can have it done before EJS 2021.... that would be perfect.
I've been debating what to do from here for quite some time and I don't take this lightly.... the CJ2A has a ton of personality and it's just damn cool as is. But I think it's time it grew up... time it became more capable, reliable and easier to drive on challenging trails. I hope I don't ruin the personality and character. I've been gathering various parts for awhile now and think I have a plan. The plan may change, but at this point here's my thinking.
Today I hauled home a 1966 CJ5 frame that's in pretty good shape. This frame isn't too different from the '48 CJ frame far as wheelbase, but at least this frame doesn't have a bunch of hacked up farmer welding on it. I believe the body mounts will line up, everything should fit far as mating these two.
I've also gathered;
'99 Vortec 4.3 V6
4x4 TH350
Dana 300
Narrow Track CJ Dana 30 front w/ disc brakes
Narrow Track CJ AMC 20 rear w/ Detroit and 4.10 gears
The CJ5 frame will be getting YJ springs, probably going to use the Rubicon Express 1.5" Extreme Duty springs. I've been looking hard at the Rocky Road Outfitters CJ to YJ spring Conversion for this. I could fab my own YJ spring hangers and still might, but this would make it easy and someone else could follow along on their own build, which is neat IMO. I'd also beef up the frame in the needed places, add a mount for a Saginaw power steering box, build bumpers and a winch plate, etc.
Once the drivetrain was in the CJ5 frame and was a roller and the 4.3, TH350, Dana 300 and CJ axles were sitting on YJ springs, I'd work on swapping the CJ2A body onto the CJ5 frame. The goal here is to keep the CJ2A together for as long as possible, so I can still drive it in the mean time.
I'd be building this thing to sit of 35" BFGoodrich KM3's, but keep it as low as possible. That means I'd raise the fenders up a few inches, raise the rear wheel wells and probably open them up and move the arch back, as much as possible with keeping the wheel and tire moved back as much as I can with YJ springs. Not sure how many of you know Brennan Metcalf, but I'd be taking notes from his setup to some degree. Low as possible, with 'big' tires.... and 35's on a CJ2A are massive! 😎
Once the body swap is done, I'd like to build a simple full roll cage and add suspension seats, for safety and comfort.
So that's the plan.... I'm not going to start working on it right away, I have other projects to finish first. But I'll keep gathering pieces and get to work on this thing soon enough. I'm hoping I can have it done before EJS 2021.... that would be perfect.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Just a random thought, I still have the stock Fox Rubicon shocks from my Gladiator sitting around... obviously they are for a much heavier Jeep and one on coil springs, but they feel like they're valved way too light for that application. Wonder how they'd do under this light Willys with leaf springs. 🤔
They're around 8" travel, that's not much... but is that enough for a SUA suspension? I will probably need to lay the rear shocks back at a steep angle to fit them anyway.
Is it worth fabbing shock mounts for these, or use some other generic shock?
Wonder if I could get a set of TJ Falcon 2.1's under there!
They're around 8" travel, that's not much... but is that enough for a SUA suspension? I will probably need to lay the rear shocks back at a steep angle to fit them anyway.
Is it worth fabbing shock mounts for these, or use some other generic shock?
Wonder if I could get a set of TJ Falcon 2.1's under there!
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I like the plan, and I know you've been wanting to make it a better/more reliable wheeler for quite some time. I like the SUA idea, but I fear those 1.5 springs will have too much spring rate for the Willys. I ran them in the rear of my red YJ as SOA at first, but it was too tall on 35's. I switched to SUA and it was perfect with some TJ flares in the rear.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Which leaf pack did you run? Rubicon Express has a 6 leaf for the rear of YJ's and a 5 leaf pack for the fronts. I was thinking about running the 5 leaf pack all the way around. I think they'll be better than the stock, short & narrow leaf packs early CJ's have to start with, so that's something.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
I'm not positive, but it was probably the 6 pack. These two photos are the before and after of the SOA to SUA rear conversion. I lowered the front by pulling one leaf and running a shorter shackle, but it was still SOA on a Waggy leaf spring.
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
I don't want to run stock YJ springs, even new ones (if you can get them). They're just too floppy.... and die quickly. I'm thinking a quality, aftermarket YJ spring pack with 5 leafs and a little bit of arch will last. They may be a bit stiff at first, but I'd imagine after breaking in they'll be OK. I can't find a spring rate for the RE springs....
Magerdgr
Have gun, will travel
- Location
- My secret underground lair
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
You're not the first, today.... @Johnny Quest got deeply offended when I told him my plans.
Put it this way, it's not been reliable enough to get out on the trail and THAT is the real shame. I just want to wheel it.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Your yellow flatfender and Brennan's Rango are my two favorite flatfenders after Rick Pewe's. I see nothing wrong with making yours more like Brennan's. I would definitely put 4.1 gears in the tcase though.
Magerdgr
Have gun, will travel
- Location
- My secret underground lair
Haha, I totally get wanting to make it reliable, and I guess even though we need to agree to disagree about your plans, we can still be friends. 😂
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Thanks, that says a lot!
I'm planning on a TeraLow 4 to 1 in the Dana 300. I'm thinking with 4.10 gears and 35's I'll be able to drive up to 60 mph or so on the street and still have low gearing for the technical trails. I'm planning on a HD output as well.
smfulle
Active Member
- Location
- Plain City, UT
I might be a bit biased but if there are only two pedals it might as well be a JK. 😈
I‘d still run Cliffhanger with you regardless.
I‘d still run Cliffhanger with you regardless.
Magerdgr
Have gun, will travel
- Location
- My secret underground lair
Amen!
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Posting this here for future reference... good insight about boxing the frame and adding a Saginaw box to an older Jeep frame.
https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/...eanthem&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=&utm_source=
https://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/...eanthem&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=&utm_source=
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
Well, time for the new frame build to commence! The frame needs some work and had some pretty thick paint on it, so I had it sand blasted. I found more cracks than I had seen before, so this was a very good move. It's still in good shape, but needs some work. My plan is to box up the front frame horns, the C-channel around the new spring mounts and add a piece of 1/4" strap to the bottom of the frame. I really don't want to box the whole frame.
I have been gathering more parts for the previously mentioned frame build, want to start with the frame, then leaf spring mounts and go from there. Hopefully I can get axles mounted to the springs, then start working on mounting the drivetrain and seeing how everything clears & fits. I considered the RRO YJ Spring Conversion, but it's a lot of money and I think I can build something just as good myself. Made an order from RuffStuff for some spring & shackle mounts to get started. Need to get bushings for the springs, then shackles next.
Here's some parts & fitting pics from today...
Rear RE 1.5" YJ springs sitting on the CJ spring mounts.-
Front RE YJ 1.5" springs sitting close to the spring mounts. -
I have been gathering more parts for the previously mentioned frame build, want to start with the frame, then leaf spring mounts and go from there. Hopefully I can get axles mounted to the springs, then start working on mounting the drivetrain and seeing how everything clears & fits. I considered the RRO YJ Spring Conversion, but it's a lot of money and I think I can build something just as good myself. Made an order from RuffStuff for some spring & shackle mounts to get started. Need to get bushings for the springs, then shackles next.
Here's some parts & fitting pics from today...
Rear RE 1.5" YJ springs sitting on the CJ spring mounts.-
Front RE YJ 1.5" springs sitting close to the spring mounts. -
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Is that the 44044 spring? It might be pretty stiff for you.
No, he said YJ spring. 44044 was a Wagoneer application.
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah
Ah, that's right. I was thinking that was the old Rubicon Express 1.5" spring number.